Fireproof container



2 Sheets-Sheet W J. GARTNER FIREPROOF CONTAINER Nov. 5, 1968 Filed Aug.17, 1965 (@zW/z/ BY @ml Mil, Wy

United States Patent() 3,408,966 FIREPROOF CONTAINER William J. Gartner,Melrose Park, Ill., assignor to De Soto Inc., a corporation of DelawareFiled Aug. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 573,049 27 Claims. (Cl. 109--74) ABSTRACTF ATHE DISCLOSURE A fireproof container assembly having an innercontainer surrounded by an outer frame. A heat protection liner isprovided between the outer frame and the inner container. The liner isformed of fibrous material, the outer portion of which has a hightemperature resistance and the inner portion of which has hightemperature insulative properties. A jamb having an irregular surfaceconfiguration bridges the outer frame rand the inner container. Aclosure member having an irregular undersurface portion, an underframeand fibrous material interposed .between the undersurface portion andunde-rframe is provided and is adapted formating relationship with thejamb, in a manner so that a narrow, tortuous path resistive to heat flowis provided between the closure and the jamb.

This invention relates to a container assembly, and more particularly,to a container assembly that is capable of" protecting the contentstherein :from damage resulting from fire in the vicinity of thecontainer.

This invention provides a container that is capable of storing'andprotecting valuable documents and certificates from fire damage, and isrelatively inexpensive yand light in weight. It also provides acontainer having a large useful volume in porportion to the overalldimensions of the assembly.

`Prior art tire-resistant containers, or lire-proof safes as they arecommonly called, have been -found to be disadvantageous in certainrespects. Although many fireproof safes have provided protection to thecontents stored therein against destruction. by fire, the relativelyhigh cost, high weight to volume ratio, `and small usable volume t0overall dimensions ratio have been serious impediments to widespread useof such reproof safes in smaller offices and homes. Prior to thisinvention, these disadvantages were considered to be a necessaryconcomitant to adequate fire protection.

lOne of the major causes of the disadvantageous cost and construction ofprior art safes is the insulation material that has been used to fillthe space between the steel inner container and the steel outer frame ofthe fire-proof safe. The filling for prior art safe liners has generallyincluded a cementitious or `dried slurry material which contains freeand/ or combined water. The cementitious material absorbed heat, firstby liberation of combined water and then lby vaporization of theliberated water; and the absorption of heat in this manner served toprotect the contents of the container [from excessive temperature riseuntil 'all the water present was turned to steam. Once all the water wasvaporized, the cementitious material became a very poor insulator andthe interior temperatures of the safe rose rapidly. Since thecementitious mate-rial is dense and since large amounts of it had to beused to provide enough water to delay heat transfer for a reasonablelength of time, it is easy to see why the prior art safes werenecessarily heavy and thick-walled.

To partially compensate for the rapid heat rise in prior art safes afterthe Water was vlaporized and to avoid excessive pressure between theouter and inner walls, means were generally provided in such safes forventing the steam from the space between the Walls into the innercompartment. The high specific heat of the steam served ice to slow downthe temperature rise in the inne'r'ciornpartment to some extent butproduced ran additionaldisadvantage in that it Acaused some of the inkson the documents stored to run and thereby produced illegibility in thedocuments. 'v l i f 1 The container assemblyof the present inventionobvi# ates the above-mentioned disadvantages of prior art fireproofsafes. The illustrated embodiment lis up to lighter in weight than priorart fireproof safes having the same overall dimensions and its usa-blevolume is greater than the usable volume of prior art .reproof safessaving the same overall dimensions. The container assembly of thepresent invention is relatively inexpensive tov manufacture, and becauseof its low weight, is inexpensive to ship. Further, the containerassembly of the present invention is constructed so that the venting ofsteam is generally unnecessary, thereby alleviating the danger ofrunning ink as is present with prior art fireproof safes. In addition tothese advantages, it affords fire protection that is comparable, and insome cases better, than the protection given by prior art fireproofsafes. f

In accordance with the instant invention, a container assembly isprovided which comprises an inner container and an outer frame enclosinga major portion of the assembly. A lheat protective liner is interposedbetween the outer frame and t-he inner container, which liner comprisesfibrous material, at least the outer portion of which has a hightemperature resistance and at least the inner portion of which has hightemperature insulativeproperties. v

The container assembly further includes meansn forsecuring the innercontainer to a fixed position Within the outer frame, and a jamb whichbridges the outer frame and the inner container. A closureV member isprovided, which member is adapted for mating relationship with the jamb.The closure member' has an irregular undersurface portion which isadapted for engagement -wit-h an irregular surface of the jamb, so thata narrow, tortuous path resistive to heat ow is providedbetween theclosure and the jamb.

The closure member includes an outer frame, the irregular undersurftaoeportion, an underframe, and a heat protective liner interposed betweenthe outer frame and the underframe. In a preferred embodiment of theinverttion, the irregular surface of the jamb and the irregularundersurface portion of the closure member are in a snug, matingrelationship `so that the closure member is removable from the jamb onlylin la direction that is perpendicular to the surface of the innercontainer lfacing the closure underframe,

In one form of the invention, the inner container of the assembly isformed of a high temperature resistant molded plastic composition, suchas a glass fiber or vasbestos-filled polyester composition. The plasticinner con-` tainer is much lighter than the steel inner containerutilized in prior art construction, and in additiondoes not requirecorrosion protection or painting for beauty.,

A more detailed explanation of the invention is provided in thefollowing description and claims-and is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which: i

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, partially broken, ofy

a container assembly in accordance with the present invention, withoutthe lid attached thereto; v

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional elevation of a con-l tainer assembly inaccordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a lid-connectionsystem in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional elevation of a lid andjamb arrangement of a modified form of the present invention; and

FIGURE is a fragmentary perspective view, partially broken, of a filecabinet construction in accordance with the teachings of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2 in particular, a container lassembly isprovided, having an outer frame 12 and' an inner container 14.Interposed between the outer frame 12 and the inner container 14 is aheat protective linen generally designated as 16. A jamb 18 is providedfor -bridging`the outer frame 12 and the inner container 14.'

The container assembly includes a lid 20 comprising an outer frame 22,an underframe 24, and an undersurface portion 26 bridging the outerframe 22 and the underframe 24. The heat protective liner 16 isinterposed between the lid outer frame 22 and the underframe 24.

From FIGURE 2 it is seen that the jamb 18 has an irregular surfaceconfiguration which closely conforms to the irregular configuration ofthe undersurface portion 26 of the lid 20. The jamb 18 and theundersurface portion 26 of the lid define a narrow, tortuous pathresistive to heat flow.

The linear 16 comprises a first fibrous material 28 having a hightemperature resistance, positioned adjacent the outer frame 12, and asecond fibrous material 30 having high temperature insulativeproperties, positioned between the first fibrous material 28 and theinner container 14.

By providing appropriate materials 28 and 30, a heat protective liner isformed having both high resistance to temperature and low thermalconductivity. To achieve this result, the material 28 is a .fibrousmaterial having a high temperature resistance, such as a temperatureresistance enabling it to withstand a temperature of at least 1700Fahrenheit, and preferably a temperature of at least 2000 Fahrenheit,indefinitely. The material 30 has good temperature insulative propertiesat high temperatures and preferably a thermal conductivity factor ofless than`0.65 B.t.u. inch per square foot per degree Fahrenheit perhour when measured at 1000 Fahrenheit. Of course, other things -beingequal, the lower the thermal conductivity factor, the more preferablethe material. In a specific embodiment, material 28 consists of a 1/2inch thick layer of ceramic fiber, sold under the trade nameJohns-Manville Cerafelt, having a density of 12 pounds per cubic foot.The material 30 consists of one inch thickness of glass fiber matte,which was sprayed with a one percent starch solution to provide boundmoisture. Glass paper containing asbestos fiber is also satisfactory.

It is preferred that the fibrous material 28 -be between about 1A inchand about one inch in thickness and the fibrous material `be betweenabout 1/2 inch and about 2/2 inches in thickness.

When a starch solution is utilized, there is some heat absorption due tolatent heat of vaporization of the solution, but such absorption is notthe principal mechanism for vretarding heat iiow and the system of thepresent invention is not dependent upon it. This permits materials to beused having inherently good thermal insulating properties, withoutrelying upon the latent heat of vaporization as with prior art liners.

vIn the illustrated embodiment, the outer frame 12, lid outer frame 22,jamb 18 and lid undersurface 26 were formed of 20 gauge cold rolledsteel (.035 inch in thickness). The inner container 1`4 is formed of0.100 inch asbestos-filled polyester resin, which is molded to shape.The inner lcontainer 14 is suspended from the jamb 18 and is fastenedthereto Iby means of suitable fastening members 32. It has -been foundthat suspending the plastic inner container from the steel jamb providesvery effective resistance to heat flow, since no direct supports betweenthe inner container and the outer frame are utilized. The lid underframe24 also is composed 0f asbestos-filled polyester resin, which is 0.10inch in thickaftosa@ 4 ness. The underframe 24 is secured to the lidundersurface 26 by means of screws. l

In a specific embodiment,` the outer frame 28 is 121/2 inches by 16inches by 9 inches, and the inner container 14 is 91/2 inches by 13inches by 6 inches.

The heat protective liner and the lid-jamb seal c0- operate to achieve ahighly effective container assembly. Because of the relatively lightweight of the lid of the instant invention due to the relatively lightweight heat protective liner, it is possible to lift the lid in adirection that is perpendicular to the fbottom surface 34 Of innercontainer 14. In this manner the irregular configuration of jamb 18 canprecisely conform with the irregular undersurface 26 so as to provide anexcellent seal and hence an extremely narrow and tortuous path whichimpedes heat flow. This is in sharp contrast to prior art fireproof safeconstructions, wherein hinged closure memlbers were necessary due to thegreat weight of the closure members, thereby requiring necessary spacebetween the jamb and the closure for pivotal movement of the closurewith respect to the jamb. Further, the excellent seal provided by theprecise conformity of the irregular configuration of jamb 18 with theirregular undersurface 26 allows the use of a lesser amount of heatprotective liner material than the amount needed in prior art fireproofsafes.

In FIGURE 3 a connection of the lid 20 to the remainder of the containerassembly is illustrated. It can be seen that a scissors-type hinge 40 isprovided whereby the lid can be lifted from position a to position b andthen pivoted about pivot 42 to position c for allowing access to thecontents within the inner container 14. The scissors hinge 40 isconnected to the frame 12 by fastener 44.

In FIGURE 4 there is shown a modified construction wherein the lid 20 ispivotable about the pinle 46 of hinge 48. It can be seen that the jamb18 is angled at 50 in order to provide a space for the undersurface 26of the lid 20 to pivot. The hinged arrangement of FIGURE 4 isparticularly useful where a perpendicularly removable lid would beinconvenient.

A fireproof file cabinet construction in accordance with the presentinvention is illustrated in FIGURE 5. The file cabinet includes drawers62 having conventional sliding means 64 connected to trays 65. Thecabinet body 66 includes steel outer frame 12 and heat protective liner16, which liner comprises first fibrous material 28 having a hightemperature resistance and second fibrous material 30 having highthermal insulative properties. Common numerals in the various figuresdesignateidentical materials.

An inner lining 14 is provided, and the outer frame 12 and inner lining14 are bridged at the opening surface by a jamb 18. The drawers 62 eachinclude an outer frame 22, an underframe 24, and an undersurface portion26 bridging the outer frame 22 and the underframe 24. The heatprotective liner 16 is interposed between the drawer outer frame 22 andthe underframe 24. It can be seen that the undersurface portion 26 has aconfigura tion which closely conforms to the irregular configuration ofthe jamb 18 to define a narrow, tortuous path resistive to heat flowwhen the drawer is closed.

Because of the relative light weight of the materials used in theconstruction of a file cabinet as illustrated in FIGURE 5, it can bereadily seen that a freproof file cabinet can now be manufactured withsimilar ease of handling as is conventional with prior art file cabinetsnot having fireproof properties. The drawers can be slid withoutdifficulty and as a result of the rectilinear movement of the drawerswith respect to the cabinet body it is possible to utilize conformingclosure and jamb configurations having extremely close tolerances.

Although a few illustrative embodiments have been shown and described,it is clear that various modifications and substitutions may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope ofthe instant invention. Itis to be understood that no limitation is intended with respect to anydimensions or the position of the closure, other than as defined by thefollowing claims.

Similarly, with respect to materials of construction, it is to beunderstood that substitutions may be made within the teachings ofk thisinvention, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example,the high temperature resistance material 28 may be made of slag fibersor quartz fibers in place of or in admixture with the ceramic fibersdisclosed above. The material 30 of good high temperature insulation maybe made of asbestos fibers in place of or in admixture with the glassfibers disclosed above. And both materials 28 and 30 may be of wovenconstruction, if desired, as well as the non-woven matte constructiondescribed above.

Although the heat protective liner 16 is usually made up of two separatefibrous materials 28 and 30, as described above, it is within thepurview of this invention to make a protective liner from a singlefibrous material, provided that it has both the high temperatureresistance of material 28 and the high temperature insulative propertiesof material 30. Fibrous potassium titanate is an example of a suitablematerial having both high temperature resistance properties and hightemperature insulative properties. Although this material is inorganic,it is fibrous in nature having fiber lengths which may range from aboutmicrons or less to about 0.1 millimeter, or more. Fibrous potassiumtitanate may be formed into paper or into blocks with from 0-5% of aSuitable binder, such as calcium silicate and may provide, without anyadditional material, a suitable heat protective liner.

What is claimed is:

1. A container assembly which compirses: an outer frame enclosing amajor portion of the assembly; an inner container; first heat protectionmeans interposed between said outer frame and said inner container, saidfirst protection means comprising fibrous material having outer andinner portions, said outer portion having a high temperature resistanceand said inner portion having high temperature insulative properties;means for securing said inner container to a fixed position within saidouter frame; a jamb bridging said outer frame and said inner container,said jamb having an irregular surface configuration; closure meansadapted for mating relationship with said jamb, said closure meanshaving an irregular surface configuration of said jamb whereby saidirregular surface configuration and said irregular undersurface portiondefine a narrow, tortuous path resistive to heat flow; said closuremeans comprising an outer frame, said irregular undersurface portion, anunderframe and second heat protection means interposed between saidclosure outer frame and said underframe; said second heat protectionmeans comprising fibrous material having outer and inner portions, saidouter portion having a high temperature resistance and said innerportion having high temperature insulative properties.

2. A container assembly as described in claim 1 wherein said innercontainer is formed of a high temperature resistant molded plasticcomposition.

3. A container assembly as described in claim 2, wherein said plasticcomposition comprise asbestos-filled polyester resin.

4. A container assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said first andsecond heat protection means each consist of a fibrous material having ahigh temperature resistance and a fibrous material having hightemperature insulative properties.

5. A container assembly as described in claim 4, wherein said hightemperature resistant fibrous material of said yfirst and second heatprotection means is between about 1A inch and about one inch inthickness and said high temperature insulative fibrous material of saidfirst `and second heat protection means is between about 1/2 inch andabout 21/2 inches in thickness.

6. A container assembly as described vin claim 4, wherein said hightemperature resistant fibrous material of said first and second heatprotection means comprises a refractory fiber that is about 1/2 inch inthickness and said high temperature insulative fibrous material of saidfirst and second heat protection means is about one inch in thicknessand comprises a glass matte composition.

7. A container assembly as described in claim 6, wherein said innercontainer comprises an asbestos-filled polyester resin.

8. A container assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said irregularsurface configuration and said irregular undersurface portion are in asnu-g mating relationship whereby said closure means is removable fromsaid jamb only in a direction that is perpendicular to the surface ofsaid inner container that is facing said closure underframe.

9. A container assembly as described in claim 8, including means formovably connecting said closure means to the other portion off saidcontainer assembly.

10. A container assembly as described in claim 1, including means forsecuring said inner container to said jamb, whereby said inner containeris suspended therefrom.

11. A container assembly as described in claim 4, wherein said hightemperature resistant fibrous material of said first and second heatprotection means has a temperature resist-ance enabling it to withstanda temperature of at least 11700" F.

12. A container assembly as described in claim 4, wherein said hightemperature insulative fibrous material of said first and second heatprotection means has a thermal conductivity of less than 0.65 B.t.u.inch per square foot per degree Fahrenheit per hour when measured at1000 F.

13. A container assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said outerportion of said first heat protection means is formed of =a materialdifferent from the material which forms said inner portion of saidIfirst heat protection means.

14. A container assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said outerportion of said second heat protection means is tformed of a materialdifferent Ifrom the material which forms said inner portion of saidsecond heat protection means.

15. A container assembly as described in claim 1, wherein said outer andinner portions of said first heat protection means are formed ofidentical material.

16. A container assembly as described in claim I1, wherein said outerand inner portions of said second heat protection means are formed ofidentical material.

17. A file cabinet which comprises: an outer frame enclosing a majorportion thereof; an inner lining; first heat protection means interposedbetween said outer frame and said inner lining, said first heatprotection means comprising fibrous material having outer tand innerportions, said outer portion having a high temperature resistance andsaid inner portion having high temperature insulative properties; meansfor securing said inner lining to a vfixed position within said outerframe; a jamb bridging said outer frame and said inner lining, said jambhaving an irregular surface configuration; a file drawer comprising afile carrying tray and closure means adapted for mating relationshipwith said jamb, said closure means having an irregular undersurfaceportion for engagement with said irregular surface configuration of saidjamb whereby said irregular surface configuration and said irregularundersurfa-ce portion define a narrow, tortuoiis path resistive to heathow; said closure means comprising an outer frame, said irregularundersurface portion, an underframe and second heat protection meansinterposed between said closure outer iframe and said underframe; saidsecond protection means comprising fibrous material having outer andinner portions, said outer portion having a high temperature resistanceand said inner portion forslidabl'y connecting-,said drawerltothe-outerportion'r` of the iile cabinet.l

A'18. A' tile cabinet as described inv claim 17, whereinsaid' innerlinin'g'is tformedv of a high temperature resistant molded plasticcomposition.

19.` AV file"cabinet as described in claim 17, lwherein said irregular`surface''configuration and said irregular u'ndersurfaceY portion are ina'snug mating relationship whereby said closure means is movable withrespect to said jamb onlyy in a rectilinear direction. A'

"20. Alec-abinet as described in claim 17, wherein said first and secondheat protection means each consist of: a'brous material having a hightemperature resistancev and a fibrous material having high temperature'insulative properties.

21. A le cabinet -as described in claim 20, wherein said hightemperature resistant librous material of said first and second heatprotection means has a temperature resistance enabling it to `withstanda temperature of at least 1700 F.

22. A lile cabinet as described in claim 20, wherein said hightemperature insulative tibrous material of said first and second heatprotection means hasa thermal conductivity of less than 0.65 B.t.u. inchper square footper degree Fahrenheit per hour when measured Iat 1000 F.

23. A tile cabinet as described in claim 20, wherein said brousmaterials of said irst heat protection means are identical to saidfibrous materials of said second heat protection means.

'A Y241; A' Iilfe "cabinet .'s"describ;e'd claim-"17, wherein saidouter"portiriofsailhrst-healt p'rotectio'n means is formed offa materialditferent'ffrm'the material which formsksaid inner portion o'f`said"'rst heat protection meansf "l: l.

125. le cabinet as described clani 17, wherein said'outer portion ofsaid"scorid"heat protection means is fornied'fof'a'm'terial'fdiffrenfrom the material which -forms said;inner'p'r'tion offsad second-'heat protection 26. A tile. c'abifr1etAas' described claim 17,"wherein said outer and .inner'lportionsfo'fs'ai'dti'st heatlpr'otecti'riI means areformed 'of identical material.

27. A tile. cabinet asde'scriliellv i'riclaini 17,'wherein said outerand inner portions of said secon h'eat protection means Vare `formed ofidentical rn' a'terialijl i l I, i

ReferenesCited Y .UNIT.ED STATES PATENTS REINALo P. MACHADio. Primary AExam'fger.

